Alex first learned to play chess when he was four years old. He loved it. He loved the pieces, the challenge, and the sweet taste that winning left in his mouth. He loved it until he played a chess game with moldy old Uncle Hooya...and lost. Then Alex decided to give up chess for good.

Now in third grade Alex wants to give chess another try. He joins the chess club and discovers that chess is fun again. He plays his friends, he listens to the coach, and he practices at school, at home, and on the computer. Alex is a chess maniac! All of this practice is leading up to the big tournament, where Alex finds himself face-to-face with Little Cousin Hooya. Memories of his earlier defeat return, but now is his chance to finally beat a Hooya. Is Alex up to the challenge?

From the Publisher:Having lost his first game to Uncle Hooya as a small child, AlexÆs passion for chess faded for many years, but after attending a chess club meeting in third grade, Alex learned to enjoy the game again and feels more than ready to face his next big competitor--Little Cousin Hooya.Alex first learned to play chess when he was four years old. He loved it. He loved the pieces, the challenge, and the sweet taste that winning left in his mouth. He loved it until he played a chess game with moldy old Uncle Hooya...and lost. Then Alex decided to give up chess for good.

Now in third grade Alex wants to give chess another try. He joins the chess club and discovers that chess is fun again. He plays his friends, he listens to the coach, and he practices at school, at home, and on the computer. Alex is a chess maniac! All of this practice is leading up to the big tournament, where Alex finds himself face-to-face with Little Cousin Hooya. Memories of his earlier defeat return, but now is his chance to finally beat a Hooya. Is Alex up to the challenge?

The daughter of a Korean-born mother and a Chinese-born father, Janet S. Wong was raised in California. A gifted poet, Wong focuses in many of her works on the theme of family heritage and culture. Before turning to writing full time, Wong worked as an attorney. Her first collection of poetry, GOOD LUCK GOLD AND OTHER, was published in 1994. In 1995 she was named Writer in Residence at the University of Southern California Writing Project.